1 week Ago
I can get up a little later at the weekend as I don’t have to get the kids to school. So 8am’s a lie in after a busy week of early starts. The practice is open on Saturday mornings and I share the Saturday rota with my three other vets.
If I’m not working on a Saturday morning I try to get to the gym. Saturday breakfasts are usually early but I do like brunch on a Sunday. Weekdays we have some quick version of eggs or porridge but it’s nice to have something a bit fancier like a shakshuka or baked eggs at the weekend.
Having said that, I do love a wee fry sometimes. If I have the weekend off I like to go to the gym on a Saturday morning. I’m a member of a CrossFit gym and they have a team work-out on a Saturday morning.
I have to say I feel I won’t win any PB prizes at CrossFit but I get a good work-out and the community aspect is great. After that I’m usually taxiing the kids to their horse-riding or golf or guitar. We try to take it easy on a Sunday, although there always seems to be a wee job or two to do! Over the summer we’ve been trying to get the garden into shape.
I love being outdoors. We live in a small village and I’m definitely more suited to rural life. Most things can seem better after a bit of fresh air.
We’re near the sea so we enjoy walking the dog at the shore front and then maybe grab a coffee at a local café. My weekends definitely look different now! I remember when I would be heading out to The Crescent in Belfast or Kelly’s in Portrush. Now it might be a few cocktails in Bert’s Jazz Bar and the last train home.
I love The Muddlers Club in Belfast. The tasting menu is a lovely treat for birthdays and special occasions. Get to the gym.
If I can’t make a Saturday class I’ll go on Sunday morning. I don’t’ always feel like it but I know I feel better when I go. The practice is open on Saturday mornings.
We try to keep this time for sick pets and emergency appointments. I’d much rather have time to see sick pets during the Saturday morning clinic than risk waiting until Monday. We have a specialist emergency out of hours provider which takes over at 12 o’clock.
This makes a huge difference to our work-life balance. I used to do on-call work as a farm vet and that can be quite tough. It’s easy to underestimate the impact of lack of sleep.
I am more value to my patients when I am well rested and alert, rather than running on coffee. I’d like to chat with Emma Barnett, the BBC broadcaster. As well as listening to her lovely calming voice, I’d hope she’d give me some gossip on some of the famous people she has interviewed! I do enjoy cooking.
I love flicking through recipe books and I enjoy watching (usually on catch up!) If I have time at the weekend I’ll pick something new to try to cook. The kids don’t really like the jeopardy as they know they’ll have to eat it whether it’s a success or not! Definitely a roast dinner, probably lamb. My husband is really good at making roast potatoes and, if I’m honest, a roast dinner is just an excuse for roast potatoes and gravy.
We’ll usually eat in the kitchen as a family. My son is 16 and my daughter is 11. I could say it’s a chance for us to catch up with each other but it usually just degenerates into (good humoured) banter.
We are lucky to have a great local Chinese take-away so that’s our first choice for a fuss-free dinner. My husband and I like a good action movie or thriller but to be honest, I’ll watch nearly anything. Except horror movies — I’m no good at those! I’m loving the latest season of .
We’ve also just finished watching I normally go for spy thrillers but at the minute I’m really enjoying reading by Graham Norton. Having learnt how much better I feel with a good night’s sleep, I’m usually in bed by 10.30.
I like to read for a bit before falling asleep..
